Planet Mural Nursery Ideas: Create a Cosmic Room for Baby

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Some parents tell us it’s a challenge to find inspiring bedrooms for boys, so we’re always thrilled when a standout room lands in our inbox. Dacia and Jordan’s nursery felt genuinely “out of this world”—pun intended. Below is Dacia’s note describing how they created this special space. Hi John & Sherry! I wanted to share … Read more

DIY Wall Panel Headboard Ideas: Stylish Bedroom Upgrade

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When Jennae sent photos of her bedroom before and after, we had to share her DIY headboard project. Here’s her note: My husband and I live in a rental, we’re on a budget, and we love all things green (as shown on my blog) — so decorating the bedroom wasn’t easy. Our biggest challenge was … Read more

How to Recycle Old Household Items with Freecycle

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When we upgraded to our new organic mattress this week, we were left with a spare queen mattress we no longer needed. We weighed a few options — selling it locally, donating it, or listing it — and decided this was a perfect opportunity to try Freecycle. Freecycle is a network of locally run message … Read more

Bonus Room Makeover Featuring a Large Wall Map

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Kate’s playroom makeover is nothing short of a miracle! Here’s her letter: You two are the best, and I read your blog every day. I just redid the bonus room in our house and wanted to pass it along. Thanks for being such an inspiration! -Grateful, Kate Here’s the chaotic and cluttered before: And the … Read more

Painting Trim with a Sprayer: Step-by-Step Guide for Flawless Results

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While talking about office plans last week, several of your comments about the blue trim gave us the push we needed. We’d been convincing ourselves we could paint all the trim by hand—baseboards, crown molding, and five windows with 66 individual panes—but it was getting ridiculous. So we decided to break out the paint sprayer, … Read more

Why We Chose an IKEA Sectional: Real-Life Review and Tips

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We recently went on a quest for a new sectional. Picture it like a documentary—minus the Australian voiceover and dramatic nature shots—because we searched far and wide for the perfect piece. We even drove up to Washington, DC to visit the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams store and a sprawling Room & Board showroom. The … Read more

Turn an IKEA Bookcase Into a Seamless Built-In Look

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We’d been thinking about adding a bookcase to the office/guest room/playroom for a while — they’re great for storage, display, and adding architectural height. After measuring the wall to the left of the off-center window, we headed to Ikea with a scrap of paper in my purse. A few hours later we were back assembling … Read more

DIY Faux Roman Shade: Step-by-Step Guide for Stylish Window Treatments

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I’ve always loved fabric, and when I realized I’d never tried making a roman shade— even a fixed, purely decorative one—I decided it was time. Here’s how I created a faux roman shade that looks finished without functioning hardware. The kitchen window felt bare and begged for fabric. Because it opens into a sunroom and … Read more

Why Swap Swiffer Dusters for Microfiber Cloths: A Smarter Clean

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We finally made the switch from disposable Swiffer duster pads to reusable microfiber cloths. After a few months of wanting to change but finishing the pads we already owned, we waited until the last one was used and the empty box went into recycling. Once the box was empty, we replaced the disposable pads with … Read more